Texans round 1 pick: Pros and cons of drafting different positions

Most mock drafts have the Texans taking wide receiver in the first round. Unlike some previous years, I do not think there is any one obvious positional need in the first. And allegedly, the Texans philosophy is best available player though their drafts often resemble a need shopping list. Because I’m handy at looking at the pros and cons of decisions that aren’t certain, that’s what this blog post is about. I’m going to assemble the pros and cons of the Texans picking different positions in the first round.

I don’t have a strong view for the Texans picking any particular player, and I also think that fans shouldn’t overly obsess with what the team does at the top of the draft. Plenty of good players picked in lower rounds. I remember during the 2006 draft, as the rounds progressed, some Texans fans got angrier and angrier that the Texans weren’t picking Eric Winston. And then the Texans ended up getting him in with their second pick in the third round.

In any event, here are the pros and cons of picking different positions in the first round. Does any of it challenge your thinking? Have anything to add to it? Some of this could become repetitive, so I will admit some critiques that may apply to multiple positions.

Position of need. Mario Williams gone. In a pass-happy league, you can’t never have enough pass rushers. Texans were fortunate Connor Barwin and Brooks Reed both stayed healthy. Not a deep OLB draft. Number of 3-4 teams has increased which increases demand for OLBs. Barwin’s contract situation for next year. Quality linebackers can help with special teams.

Cons:

Ugh, Texans have been ignoring the offensive side of the ball with the draft for too long. Do all Texans first round picks need to be the draft equivalent of good for you brussel sprouts. Mix in a skill player. No OLBs worth the first round will likely be available where the Texans pick. No need to pick in the first round for a player that will project to be a back up.

Inside Linebacker.

Pros: DeMeco Ryans gone. Brian Cushing essential to last season, but has injury history (plays so hard). Linebacker is a position that rookies can become an immediate playmaker. A lack of quality depth at this position could create a problem with injuries.

Cons: Not a premium position. May not be any ILB available at 26 that are worth the pick. Other positions are of greater immediate need.

Defensive Line.

Pros: Supposed to be a deep defensive tackle draft. The Texans run defense in the middle could be improved. Defensive end depth is limited. Quality defensive lineman can be expensive to get in free agency so it is a premium position worth developing your own.

Cons: No offense to J.J. Watt, but Texans fans are sick of drafting defensive linemen. Other positions of greater need. Best defensive tackles likely off the board by that point, and not good value for 3-4 defensive ends at the bottom of the first in this draft. May be able to find quality depth with a value priced free agent pick up that can fit the system, and is more physically mature than a draft pick in early 20s.

Cornerback.

Pros: Premium position that you teams tend to overpay for in free agency. Pass-oriented league means corners have become more important. The best corners tend to be taken at the top of the draft–it is a position hard to find value in lower rounds. Do the Texans really believe in Kareem Jackson?

Cons: Do you trust the Texans drafting and developing corners? Still developing a group of DBs on the roster already. Corner has become less of a priority now that the Texans run a scheme that isn’t fundamentally unsound the second they break the huddle. Corner is a position difficult to become a playmaker right away–the Texans need to be less patient with their first round pick this year.

Offensive Line.

Pros: Briesel and Winston gone. Depth depleted. Brown and Butlers’ contract situation for next year. Tackles can be expensive positions worth picking in the first round.

Cons: One reason for running a predominantly zone blocking scheme is you don’t need the biggest, strongest guys to run it–the ones that some other teams covet and have to have. Plenty of non-first round guys have had success in this scheme. Not going to find a quality left tackle at the bottom of the first round in this draft. Want to draft a starter, playmaker in the first round.

Tight End.

Pros: Texans rely on the tight end position more than most teams in league, and run a ton of two tight end sets. Tight end has become more important to the Texans with their defense improving, and the desire to run the ball in the second half with offensive sets that help disguise run/pass more. Departure of Dreessen who was very important to run game, red zone. Owen Daniels isn’t getting any younger, has history of ACL injuries. James Casey’s greatest value to team is as a hybrid, versatile athlete who leads special teams, not as a tight end without a tight end body. If Coby Fleener is available at bottom of the first round, his college performance and measurables suggest that he may be able to do dynamic things in the Texans offense. Tight end may be the best player available at bottom of 1st round. NFL is a game of matchups. The Texans offense isn’t about #2, #3 receivers, but dynamic pass catching playmakers from a variety of positions. Not a deep TE draft. TE is a position for the Texans offense where a player can make an immediate impact–see Owen Daniels’ rookie year. Fleener may be a better TE prospect than the WR prospects available at the bottom of the first. Just because a team can make do with a lower round TE pick, doesn’t mean that a team should pass up a special athlete with a history of performance.

Cons. “Another @#$%^&( tight end! Really!? ” – Texan fan. Tight end is not considered a premium position in the draft, and lower round picks can be contributors, see e.g. Daniels, Dreesen. Pick tight end in the first and you have pressure to make starter. Quite possible that backup Garrett Graham would be a good contributor if given the opportunity given some flashes in games and his increased understanding of the playbook. Are some intriguing prospects in lower rounds who could have a chance to develop without as much pressure to start. Wide receiver is a greater priority given that the Texans had difficulty having enough players last year to run four receiver sets. Fleener isn’t such a special player you forgo greater needs.

Trade-up/Trade Down.

This is also an option, of course. You may feel that the best values are higher if you think that is where playmakers can be found, and the team wishes to take advantage of the top of the first round salaries going down with the new CBA. You may feel the best values are lower, if you think in the positions the Texans need, they can find good value for their schemes in the second and third rounds, and are more likely to hit with more players to choose from.